Forestry and Value Chains Development Programme - FORVAC

FORVAC has contributed to the value addition of community wood production by supporting the establishment of 4 community-owned portable sawmills and 2 solar timber drying kilns. Originally, these machines were jointly owned by the forest communities, but after the establishment of Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) associations, all 6 associations agreed that the mobile sawmills and solar kilns purchased by FORVAC are owned by the CBFM associations. This arrangement of ownership will sustain the usage and maintenance of the machines.

In the picture, Hon Kapenjama Ndile (white shirt), the District commissioner for Songea DC, shaking hands with Mr Ashery Haule, the chairperson of Songea CBFM association, after handing over the ownership document of the mobile sawmill.

FORVAC has supported forest communities to establish district-level associations (CBOs) that can offer significant benefits for the members through economy of scale. One immediate benefit was TIN certificates that all 6 newly established associations managed to obtain from the Tanzania Revenue Authority. The TIN certificate will support member communities to sell sustainably harvested timber more widely.

The associations involve 70 villages in 6 districts: Songea, Namtumbo, Tunduru, Nachingwea, Ruangwa, and Liwale.